Waiter and Waitress Salary in Chicago, IL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,850 take-home, or $2,154 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Illinois income tax$1,400
- Take-home pay$25,850
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 75th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 | $29,318 | $2,443 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,410 | $24.24 | $40,334 | $3,361 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,953 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #112 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 112 | Chicago, IL | $31,200 | $25,850 | $24,953 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Chicago, IL?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $35,800.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $25,850 a year ($2,154 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,400 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,953 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #112 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,720
- Bartender — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200